Surgical instrument.



W. A. WHITLOGK.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DE0.31,19081 928,011, Patented July 13, 1909.

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W. A. WHITLOCK. SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

1 APPLICATION FILED 11130.31, 1908. Patented 13,

2 8HBETSSHEBT 2.

attain WILLIAM A. WHITLOOK, OF UKL TH, (TALIFORNIK.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 31, 1908.

Patented Jul 13, 1909.

Serial No. 470,207.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM A. l/VHlT- LOCK, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Ukiah, in the county of Mendocino and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved surgical instrument, the same consisting of a curette for uterine purposes; and the invention has for its object to provide an instrument of this kind which shall be simple in construction, effective in operation, may be inserted or introduced through the cervix of the uterus without necessitating the appli cation of force in order to accomplish the necessary dilation as when a common curette is used, and which may be readily disassembled. or taken apart in order that the parts or members may be carefully and effectively cleansed and sterilized.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention. may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings-Figure 1. is a side elevation of an instrument constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the instrument in condition for use and illustrating one position of the curette or scraper. Fig. 3 is a perspec tive detail view of one end of the instrument, showing another position of scraper. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing in side elevation the parts or members comprising the expanding rod separated from each other. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the sheath. Fig. 6 is p a Iperspective detail view showing the spring ieh constitutes the curette or scraper, detached. Fig. 7 1s a detail view illustrating a modlficatlon. Flg. 8 1s a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 88 in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

In the construction of the improved instrument any suitable material, preferably metal, may be employed, it being premised. that if non-corrod1ble material is not used, it may and is preferably protected against corrosion, by plating or in some other suitable well-known manner. This, however, is left to the option of the manufacturer.

5 designates a tubular sheath of suitable dimensions which is preferably provided at one end with a reinforcing band 6, having a threaded aperture for the passage of a setscrew 7. The end of the sheath which is equipped with the band 6 will, for convenience, be designated as the outer end.

Extending longitudinally through the sheath 5, and slidable therein, is a rod 8, which may be called the expanding rod, and which is provided at its outer end, adjacent to the outer end of the sheath, with a handle 9. The opposite or inner end of the expanding rod is provided with a screwthreaded socket 10, for the reception of a correspondingly threaded nipple 11, formed upon a detachable member 12, which constitutes an extension of the expanding rod and which is provided at the extremity thereof with an expanded portion 13 having a slot 14, said expanded and slotted portion constituting a stirrup for the reception of one end of the scraper 15. The latter consists of a flat spring of suitable dimensions, formed preferably of fine steel and having at one end a loop or coil 16, which may readily be placed in engagement with the slot and with the cross-bar at the extremity of the stirrup-member of the expanding rod. The resiliency of the material of which it is formed will enable the loop or coil 16 to be readily sprung into engagement with, or detached from the stirrup-member, as may be required, and when placed in effective engagement it will be retained with suflicient security for all practical purposes. It will be understood that the reason for making the stirrup-member 12 separable from the expanding rod is simply this that the width of the expanded portion constituting the stirrup would prevent its passage through the sheath; hence the necessity for making it may come in contact.

means such as a set-screw 19, which, 10wever, must be entirely countersunk or confined in the bulb or band 17, so as to present no projecting portion that might scratch or injure the tissues or membranes with which It will be understood that any suitable means may be utilized for connecting the end of the spring .15 detachably with the end of the sheath and it is desired to be further understood that within the scope of the invention the end of the spring 15 may be attached permanently to the sheath, as by brazing or soldering inconnection with a band or ferrule, as shown at 20, in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

It will be understood that when the ends oi the spring :15 have been connected, respectively, with thesheath and with the expanding rod, the said spring may be manipulated toconstitute a loop to which different shapes and dimensions may be given, as shown at L and .L, respectively, in Figs. 2 and 3 ol the drawings; the variation in the form of the loop being efiected by sliding or adjusting the .rod 8 longitudinally within the sheath, where the said rod may be secured at any desired adjustment by means of the set screw 7. It will furthermore be seen that by projecting the rod 8 through the sheath, the spring :15may be caused to lie flat upon or adjacent to the sideo'l the .inner endo'l' the expanding red, as .shown in Fig. 1 ol' the drawings; when the instrument is in this condition it is obvious that it presents no obstruction that will interfere with its passage through the cerviX of the uterus without resorting to any unnecessary and painful dilation. After the introduction of the instrument-the rod 8 maybe projected through the sheath, thus flexing the spring 15 until it forms a loop of the desired shape and dimensions, after which the instrument may be manipulated by rotation or in any other manner to accomplish the desired results. If desired, one or both edges of the spring constituting the scra )er may be sharpened for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the placenta or morbid matter from the membrane or lining.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will. be readily understood. The constructionis simple and thoroughly effective, and an instrument is provided the utility and advantages of which will be at once recog nized by the medical practitioner. An important advantage of this improved instrument resides in the facility with which its component parts or members may be disassembled or separated for the purpose of cleaning and sterilizing the same; and it will furthermore be seen that any of the parts, it broken or injured, may be very readily replaced at a comparatively trifling expense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular sheath, a rod movable longitudinally in the sheath, and having a han dle atone end, a stirrup-member connected detachably with the other end oi the rod and a flat spring connected at one end with the sheath and having at the other end a loop adapted to be separably connected with the stirrup-member.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tubular sheath, a rod movable longitudinally in the sheath and having at one end a stirrup-member detachably connected therewith, a longitudinally slotted band mounted upon the sheath, a l'lat spring having one end engaged with the slotted band and provided at its opposite end with a loop or coil adapted for detachable connection with the stirrup-member, and means for securing the spring in the slotted band.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence oi two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. WHITLOCK.

Witnesses:

Gno. W. Srour, CHARLES M. HARMoN. 

